Christmas is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with a road trip with family and friends? While some states still have restrictions, many have opened up to people wanting to see more of their own country, so here are some of our favorite ideas for holiday season road trips! All with a slightly different flavor, they're all sure to delight in a different way!

While you have to wrap up warm in some places, the famous sights of Utah and Arizona can be really stunning in the winter too. Start in Phoenix and drive to the wonder that is the Grand Canyon (passing through Sedona, aka Red Rock Country if you have time) then on to Page for a night, and Zion National Park the next day. Zion National Park is a top travel recommendation of mine - Angel’s landing is an exhilarating trail not for the faint of heart, with either side of the narrow and winding path descending into sheer cliff face, but once you reach the top, the panoramic views make any touch-and-go experiences on the way up more than worth it. Get excited for the hike through the valley by the Mountain of the Sun, which is a place straight out of dreams - if you're wanting to rest and reset from 2020 by getting back in touch with nature and exploring the natural wonders that our home has to offer, this is the road trip for you. 

From here, it’s only 1.5 hours from Mt Zion to the magnificent Bryce Canyon. After having your mind blown by the canyons’ beauty head back to Page and then on to the stunning Horseshoe Bend, in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (it has to be seen to be believed). Finally,  make your way back to Phoenix via Antelope Canyon. This is a road trip action packed and sure to please anyone wanting to experience the great outdoors, so pack your hiking shoes and get prepared for the holiday of a lifetime - 

The Great Lakes are beautiful in winter, and here’s a multi-state route for viewing them. Start in Milwaukee, head on to the delights of vibrant Chicago, through small town midwest to Cincinnati (don’t forget to try the chili!) and on to Columbus. From the heart of Ohio head back north to ‘Motor city’ Detroit and scenic Lake St Claire - Motown fans will love this stop. Next journey west across state to the rolling sand dunes of Silver Lake State Park, Lake Michigan, before turning south to Grand Haven - make sure to take a walk around the boardwalk and visit the Grand Haven Lighthouse. The last leg of the drive is to Indianapolis before flying back to wherever you call home. It’s a fabulous mix of culture and nature to get you reinvigorated for the new year.

Yosemite National Park is another one of those places that made me go, ‘Woah, Mother Nature is a show off’. Made up of 1,169 square miles of ancient sequoia trees, towering mountains, and glass-surfaced lakes, this is less a national park and more something out of a Tolkien novel. There’s a world of opportunities and experiences waiting at Yosemite, whether it's enjoying the dramatic vistas of El Capitan, or hiking along the glaciers and rivers which carved out the topography of the national park - heck, even skiing when the weather is right. The US has a lot to boast about when it comes to places of astounding natural beauty, and Yosemite is case in point.

These breathtaking natural wonders were formed over millennia of care and patience by mother nature, and they're the perfect backdrop to any holiday escape. For those of you getting a bad case of wanderlust, I hope this ode to the astounding natural beauty of America has given you some inspiration for getting back on the road!